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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, July 20, 1951, Image 1

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1951-07-20/ed-1/seq-1/

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Amusements ...B-8 Lost and Found-A-3
Classified ...B-9-16 Obituary _A-12
Comics_B-18-19 Radio-TV _B-17
Editorial _A-10 Sports_A-14-17
Edit! Articles—A-ll Woman’s
Finance _A-19 Section_B-3-4
Late New York Markets. Page A-19._ _An Associated Press Newspaper
99th Year. No. 201. Phone ST. 5000 5 CENTS
, % i i I, ■■■■'■ ■■ ■■ — 1 . .. " —■ ■' ■■ i ■
KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN ASSASSINATED
. v !~T* , *
/
Dikes Crumble
As Flood Heads
For St. Louis
40Vi-Foot Crest Due
Monday; City Expects
Very Little Damage
•y th« Associated Press
ST. LOUIS, July 20.—The un
tamable Missouri River headed
toward a crest near its juncture
with the swollen Mississippi to
day, crumbling protecting levees
in its drive toward St. Louis.
Army engineers predicted that
all dikes at the confluence of the
two great rivers would oe swept
away within the next 48 hours.
The Mississippi, carrying the
muddy Missouri waters which
created the Nation’s first billion
dollar flood, is expected to crest at
40.5 feet at St. Louis Monday.
That would be the highest mark
recorded here since 1844.
Most of the 300 people living at
West Alton at the crossroads of
the rivers remained skeptical, how
i • * I ..... . . I
ormsn Amoassaaor
Donates $500 for
U. S. Flood Relief
Sir Oliver Pranks, the Bri
tish Ambassador, has donated
$500 for Midwest flood relief,
it was disclosed today.
Donations of $250 each was
sent to the mayors of Kansas
City, Kas., and Kansas City,
Mo., in letters of sympathy
mailed last Monday.
The Ambassador received
the $500 for writing a maga
zine article entitled, “Don’t
Sell Your Partners Short,” the
British Embassy said.
ever, even as the waters poured
over the last remaining barrier
protecting the community. West
Alton is east of St. Charles and
about 15 miles north of St. Louis.
Coast Guard Stands By.
The Coast Guard was standing
by with boats to evacuate the die
hards who. through the years,
have become accustomed to floods.
Some merely moved groceries and
Other possessions to second floors
of their homes.
This morning the St. Charles
reading of the Missouri was 37 3
feet, a rise of half a foot in 24
hours. A record crest of 38.3 is
predicted at St. Charles tomorrow.
A swift and treacherous cur
rent developed today east of the
St. Charles Bridge on U. S. high
way 40. It Washed out a trans
■ mission pole of the Union Electric
Co. and St. Charles—a town of
11.000—was threatened with a
power shortage.
Workmen in boats were trying
to get the power line back up,
but officials, feared they may have
to cut the line, which would knock
out electricity to the town for
several hours.
Little Damage Expected.
In St. Louis, officials said dam
age would be confined mainly to
the riverfront section as it was in
the 1947 flood, which cost indus
tries an estimated $9 million.
The city proper, including the
business district, is on compara
tively high ground.
The mammoth dikes down the
Mississippi from St. Louis are re
ported in better condition than
they were in 1947, when the waters
went to 40.2 feet here. Army en
gineers say they are expected to
hold.
President Truman said in
Washington that flood damage in
the midwest is now estimated at
well over $1 billion.
The estimate was mentioned by
Mr. Truman in I letter to De
fense Mobilizer Charles E. Wilson.
This would include personal, in
dustrial and agricultural damage.
Co-ordinates Relief Activity.
Mr. Wilson was designated by
the President to direct and co
ordinate the activities of Federal
(See FLOOD, Page A-4.)
PR I at. RAM
Dritisn uoctors warn
They'll Quit in Fee Rift
By thw Associdted Press
LONDON, July 20.—The Labor
government received notice last
night that all 20,000 doctors in
Britain s socialized health service
will pull out September 25 unless
they get arbitration of their de
mands for higher pay.
The British Medical Association
delivered the ultimatum to Health
Minister Hilary A. Marquand after
BMA committees from all counties
had conferred for seven hours in
London.
Pay negotiations have beer
going on for months between th
Health Ministry and the physi
cians’ group, but the doctors con
tend they have been getting no
where.
At present the physicians get s
fixed rate of $2.50 a year pel
patient and are allowed to sigr
up to 4,000 patients. They clairr
they have to work around th(
clock to make ends meet.
The average income of the 20,'
000 doctors who signed up undei
the National Health Service ii
estimated between $3,000 and $6,
000 a year. The average Britisl
worker earns about $878 a year.
N /
Threats to Atlantic City Man
Bared at Senate Crime Probe
Amusement Operator Testifies on Graft
Despite Warning of Violence
By W. H. Shippen
A death threat against a wit
ness was reported today to Sena
tors investigating charges that
the operators of amusement con
cessions at Atlantic City are
forced to pay graft to a political
machine.
The witness, Francis L. Smith,
was assured by Chairman O’Con
or of the investigating committee
that he and his family will be
given full protection by the FBI
in Washington and at his home
in Atlantic City.
Mr. Smith, who testified he paid
$1,500 to politicians in an effort
to stay in business, was asked
if he knew that after he left
Atlantic City last niglit a man
walked into his concession and
told an employe that if he gave
damaging testimony before the
Senate group he would be "rubbed
out.”
“No,” replied the witness, “but
I would not be surprised.”
The witness previously had tes
tified that he had been threat
ened by Herman (Stumpy) Or
man, described as one of a group
controlling the issuance of amuse
ment licenses.
Earlier, Orman heatedly denied
from the witness stand that he
knew anything about the threat,
said to have been delivered at
Mr. Smith's place of. business last
night.
Committee counsel Richard G.
Moser demanded to know if Or
man was not responsible for the
message. He told Orman that
the matter had been reported to
the FBI for immediate investiga
tion and declared:
“If anything happens to Mr.
Smith, the finger will be pointed
directly at you.”
noty
“I have absolutely no knowledge
of any such threat and what the
FBI may do is of no concern to
me,” Orman replied.
It was not disclosed how the
committee learned of the latest
threat.
At the conclusion of Mr. Smith’s
testimony, Chairman O’Conor
1 (See CRIME, Page A-2.)
Flash Flood Prevents
U. N. Delegates From
Resuming Truce Talk

Eighth Session Postponed
After Bad Weather Also
Grounds Helicopters
By the Associated Press
MUNSAN, Korea. July 20.—The
Korean armistice talks, focus of
world hopes for peace, took a back
seat today to the weather.
A flash flood turned a creek 10
miles south of the Kaesong con
ference site into a raging torrent
U. N. Troops to Stoy, Acheson Soys.
Page A-2
and barred jeeps carrying United
Nations delegates to the truce city.
Twenty newsmen and service
personnel who crossed the stream
before it became impassable
reached Kaesong. They returned
in late afternoon after the flood
waters subsided.
Helicopters Grounded.
Bad weather also grounded the
helicopters in which U. N. dele
gates usually travel the 14 airline
miles to Kaesong.
The eighth session between
U. N. and Communist teams—
generally regarded as crucial in
this first phase of the peace talks
—was postponed until 10 a.m. to
morrow (8 p.m., EDT, today).
A single major issue bars
agreement on an agenda which
would permit the armistice talks
to move into the second phase.
While there has been official
silence at the U. N. advance camp
here, both Communist and high
United States sources have made
clear that the knot was tied by
Red demands for withdrawal of
all foreign troops from Korea.
Communist radios in Pyong
yang, the Red Korean capital,
Peiping and Moscow have dinned
this theme.
In Washington Secretary of
State Acheson said a U. N. force
“must remain in Korea until a
genuine peace has been firmly es
tablished.”
Mr. Acheson in a statement
confirmed that “the Communist
delegation at Kaesong has raised
the question of the withdrawal of
all foreign forces from Korea in
connection with an armistice.”
he added:
“The United Nations command
delegation has stated that it can
not go into this question, which
is political . . . and can only be
settled by the United Nations and
the governments concerned.”
Ridgway Back in Tokyo.
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway,
supreme Allied commander, re
turned to Korea yesterday from
Tokyo after the Kaesong meeting
broke up so abruptly. He flew to
Tokyo last night.
A U. N. spokesman told news
men after the close of yesterday’s
brief seventh "no progress” ses
sion:
"I think we will come to an
(See TRUCE. Page A-12.)
Allies Blast Key Centers
With Radar-Aimed Bombs
By the Associated Press
UNITED STATES 8th ARmV
HEADQUARTERS, Korea, July
20.—Allied B-29 Superforts roared
through heavy clouds and rain
today and bombed the Commu
nists’ east coast rail and supply
centers.
The crews dropped their bombs
by radar. The overcast prevented
observation of results. The big
planes met neither enemy planes
nor flak.
The Japan-based B-29s hit the
Kowon rail yards and the Hung
nam supply area.
On the ground, action was
limited to patrol clashes- at
scattered points along the battle
' front.
i Allied planes yesterday flew 470
sorties despite bad weather, strik
i ing rail lines, supply centers and
bridges.
I
Truman Forces Seek
To Reverse House on
July 7 Ceiling Freeze
Amendment Setting
Base Date on Controls
Tentatively Approved
BULLETIN
An informal agreement was
reached by Republican and
Democratic House leaders to
day to try to limit debate and
conclude final voting by tonight
on the controls bill. If the bill
is not disposed of tonight there
probably will be a Saturday
session.
By th« Associated Press
Administration leaders, bracing
for new blows at their battered
economic controls bill, planned to
day to try to reverse a House ac
tion freezing price and wage ceil
ings at July 7 levels for four
months.
The amendment, tentatively put
into the bill yesterday by a coali
tion of Republicans and Southern
Democrats, left a welter of confus
ing interpretations in its wake as
members endeavored to learn all
its implications.
Charging it would kill price con
trols, administration leaders said
they hoped to reverse the House
decision when the time comes foi
a final rollcall vote—possibly to
morrow. perhaps not until next
week. They were frankly uncer
| tain of success.
Depends on Southerners.
‘‘It depends how strongly some
of my colleagues are for it,” Rep
resentative Spence, Democrat, ol
Kentucky told newsmen. He ap
parently referred to those South
ern Democrats who have sided
i with Republicans against the ad
luuuawauuu pi ugi am ior stronger
controls.
'''We may be able to kill it on a
roll call,” Mr. Spence said. “When
that time comes, I think we’ll be
able to kill several of these amend
ments to the bill.”
All votes taken on the bill so far
are tentative and unrecorded and
so are subject to later roll calls.
Mr. Spence added that he
“wasn’t afraid of anything right
now. They’ve done about every
thing they can to my Dill. They
can’t do much more to it.”
May Stay on Job Tomorrow.
With 22 additional amendments
still to be considered, prospects
faded for final action on the bill
today. There were indications the
House may be kept on the job
tomorrow.
Veteran House employes said
the debate, now more than two
weeks old, already had continued
longer than on any other piece of
legislation in recent years.
While administration spokes
men were assailing the wage-price
freeze as a “political meneuver”
and a “scuttling amendment,”
Republicans contended the House
action separated “the men from
the boys” on the "basic issue” of
controls.
Charges Policy of Inflation.
Representative Wolcott, Repub
lican, of Michigan, said it had
been the intention of Congress in
passing the original controls bill
last year to freeze wages and
prices to prevent inflation.
Through "misadministration” ol
the controls law, Mr. Wolcott de
clared, nothing but inflation had
resulted.
“It has been the studied policy
of this administration to sustain
inflation ever since cessation ol
hostilities in 1945,” he charged.
He added that the decision tc
| put on an across-the-board freeze
even if only for four months, was
“an opportunity for those of you
who have been calling for stifl
price controls to have stiff price
controls, and to effectuate the
policy of equal sacrifice for all.”
Representative Halleck, Repub.
lican, of Indiana, said Mr. Tru
man is “now to shift the blame
for inflation to the shoulders ol
Congress” after saying ha did not
(See CONTROLS, Pag* A-12.)
Mason Testifies
HeGof$100,000
For 'Influence'
* Admits No Tax Return
Filed Since 1929;
FBI Record Cited
By Cecil Holland and
George Beveridge
Sam D. Mason of New York, who
has a long criminal record as a
professional "confidence man," ad
mitted before Senate investigators
today that he had received more
than $100,000 from clients seeking
surplus Government buildings and
contracts.
He contended, however, that he
turned the money over to a mys
terious and elusive person known
as “Eungart," who was supposed
to arrange the deal.
As the investigation was brought
to a close shortly after noon,
Chairman Hoey of the Senate In
vestigating subcommittee said the
entire testimony would be turned
over immediately to the Justice
Department “for whatever action
the Justice Department or the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
will want to take."
Senator Hoey also said that the
subcommittee had been unable to
find any trace of a man named
"Eungart.”
“Might Be in Australia.”
As the hearing ended. Mason
stood up and said he thought he
might be able to locate "Eungart.”
He had persistently denied any
knowledge of the whereabouts or
personal background of the mys
terious individual, but at one point
said he thought the man “might
be in Australia—he could be anv
place.”
“If you can And him,” Senator
Hoey replied, “bring him in at any
time. But regardless of Mr. Eun
gart, this material will be turned
over to the Justice Department.”
Mason, a short and pudgy indi
vidual. who lost a leg in the Ar
gonne during World War I, testi
fied as the central figure in a new
and amazingly bizarre story of
Washington "influence peddlers.”
He was identified yesterday by
two New York priests of the Greek
Catholic Church, a Philadelphia
couple and a Boston contractor
as a so-called Washington agent
to whom they paid! thousands of
dollars’and got nothing in return.
Fails to File Tax Returns.
The investigating subcommit
tee has said that Evidence indi
cates that Mason obtained about
$350,000 in the last three years
from gullible clients.
Mason matter-of-Jactly admit
ted he had filed nip income tax
returns for 1948, ffl49 and 1950
on the large sum4 he admitted
he had'received.
“Did .you ever file an income
tax return?” Senator Hoey asked.
“I believe I did—before 1929,’
Mason replied.
Senator Hoey drily observed
that Hason evidently considered
as income only what he had left
over when he got through spend
ing.
The nlternal Revenue Bureau
disclosed that it has a man sit
ting in on the hearings. It said
this is the practice of the bureau
in any cases where possible tax
evasion might be forthcoming.
Denies Using Artificial Limb.
Asked if bureau officials plan
to arrest Mason immediately on
the basis of his disclosure he has
not paid an income tax return
since 1929, the bureau spokesman
said ordinarily they file a criminal
information with the co-operation
of the Justice Department or pro
ceed by grand jury indictment in
the jurisdiction where the return
was due.
The rotund witness provoked
an outburst of laughter when he
indignantly denied he used his
artificial limb as a repository for
thousands of dollars turned over
to him, and said:
"It only has to be known to
one person and then you hatfe
no leg and no money.”
He acknowledged, however,
that $68,000 had been found in
his artificial limb back in 1925
after one of his brushes with the
law. But he insisted he had car
(See INFLUENCE, Page A-3.)
AW, PIPE ---
. DOWN! •
X
Wilhelm of Hohenzollern Dies;
Last Imperial German Prince
- 1
Kaiser's Eldest Son
Had Lost Most of
Holdings to Soviet
By the Associated Press
HECHINGEN, Germany, July
20. — Imperial Germany’s last
crown prince—Friederich Wilhelm
of Hohenzollern—died at his little
villa here yesterday after a long
illness. He was 69.
Eldest son of Germany’s last
Kaiser, Wilhelm II, Prince Wil
helm since World War H had
lived in near seclusion here within
sight of a hilltop Hohenzollern
castle which he could not afford
to run.
In World War I he was in nom
inal charge—with general staff
experts constantly at his elbow—
of the German army in the bloody
battle of Verdun. After the heroic
French stand had stemmed the
German offensive, he was kicked
upstairs to command of an army
group.
He followed his abdicating
•—AP Photo*
CROWN PRINCE WILHELM.
father into exile in Holland, re
maining there five years. Allowed
back in Germany in 1923, he set
tled down to managing the vast
(See WILHELM. Page A-5.)
Oatis Fight Carried
To House, Severing
Of Czech Ties Asked
Rodino Calls for U. S.
To Evacuate Citizens
From Red Nation
A resolution calling for the
evacuation of all Americans from
Czechoslovakia preparatory to
severing diplomatic relations un
less Associated Press Correspond
ent William N. Oatis is freed was
pending in the House today.
The resolution was introduced
yesterday by Representative Ro
dino, Democrat, of New Jersey.
Mr. Rodino demanded the ac
tion as part of retaliatory steps
for the arrest of Mr. Oatis, 37
year-old chief of the Associated
Press bureau in Prague, and John
Hvasta of Hillside, N. J.
Sentenced to 10 Years.
Mr. Oatis was sentenced to 10
years in a Czech prison on manu
factured charges of spying. Mr.
Hvasta. who formerly worked for
the United States Consulate Gen
eral in Bratislava, also was sen
tenced to 10 years on charges
similar to those made against Mr.
Oatis. He is an American citizen
who was born in Czechoslovakia.
Resolutions calling for drastic
action by the United States to
bring about the release of Mr.
‘ (See OATIS, Page A-4.)
Franco Move Likely
To Liberalize Regime
In Bid for Tie to West
New Cabinet Named,
Return of Monarchy
Seen After Negotiations
ly th« Associated Prttt
MADRID, July 20.—Generalis
simo Francisco Franco appointed
a new cabinet last night in a bid
for American dollars and closer
ties with the non-Communist
West.
Highly placed sources said also
that the new cabinet, which is
'strongly monarchist, would place
a king on Spain’s throne. The
throne has been vacant since Al
fonso XIII fled in 1931. Restora
]tion of the monarchy is expected
to come only after long and deli
cate negotiations.
Gen. Franco himself remains as
chief of state and president of
the government.
The shakeup came shortly after
the visit to Spain of eight Ameri
can Senators, representing the for
eign relations committee, and of
Admiral Forrest Sherman, the
United States Navy chief, who re
portedly reached a basic agree
ment with Gen. Franco on Ameri
can use of Spanish naval arid air
bases.
DrUnin _A._HU_
--* ■ •••«»/* aivw,.,
President Truman told his news
conference yesterday that the
United States has somewhat
warmed its policy towards Spain
mainly for military reasons. Brit
ain and France have announced
their opposition to closer United
States ties with Spain, even
though limited to military fields.
In addition to the return of the
monarchy, other changes expected
to make the regime more accept
able to Western public opinion
and pave the way for American
loans include:
1. Greater freedom of the press,
with liberty to criticize everything
except the Roman Catholic
Church, Gen. Franco and the
fundamental laws of the realm.
2. Greater participation by the
Cortes (Parliament) in state af
fairs. At present the Cortes is
little more than a rubber stamp.
Its rules probably will be amended
(See SPAIN, Page A-12.)
Attlee to Visit Norway
LONDON, July 20 (£>).—Prime
Minister Attlee has accepted an
invitation from the Norwegian
Premier to visit Norway August
2 to 12, Mr. Attlee’s office an
nounced yesterday.
THIS SUN DA Y’S BEST REA DING
Ifye J&uitday $laf
-
GIRLS, ARE YOU AN END, A MES OR AN ECT—It's only the judges who
decide most beauty contests This Week Magazine tried a new wrinkle.
It polled the Nation with six lovelies—two endomorphs (curvy ones),
two mesomorphs (athletic types) and two ectomorphs (tall—and—wil
lowies). Americans, both male and female, voted overwhelmingly for an
"act" with some curves and muscles added. Meet "Miss D," America's
favorite girl.
OF RAIN AND MAN—About once every half century there comes a flood
that knocks the puny calculations of Army engineers and reforestation
and erosion experts into a cocked hat. Such a flood is Missouri's current
inundation. It's no ordinary flood. Its almost as if God decided once
in a while to give man a lesson in futility. The Editorial Section takes you
to the headwaters of the Kansas River to give you the life history of this
particular superflood.
SUNKEN TREASURE—CHESAPEAKE STYLE—No fabled galleon she, but an
old barge full of high-grade railroad steel scrap. She went down off
Point Lookout in 1942. With scrap prices soaring she's strictly treasure
today, and as usual there's been some one to turn a fast buck by finding
her. The Star Pictorial shows how it's done.
WHAT'S THE DOPE ON DOPE?—Americans hdve been shocked by recent
revelations of increased dope peddling and addiction. What's being dona
about it? Star Writer Jack Jonas spotlights the situation in the Editorial
Section.
FOR YOUR BEST READING EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK ORDER THE EVENING
AND SUNDAY STAR. HOME DELIVERY, $1.50 A MONTH. (NIGHT
FINAL EDITION 10 CENTS ADDITIONAL.) PHONE STERLING 5000.
B
*
f
Montgomery Teacher,
On Mrs. Markward's.
Red List, Quits Job
Arlington Instructor
Also Resigns After Being
Named by Ex-FBI Aide
By L. Edgar Prina
A man accused as a one-tira?
member of the Communist Party
underground in Washington has
resigned under pressure from his
job as a teacher in the Mont
gomery County public schools
The Star learned today.
He is William Shonick, 146f
Girard street N.W., who until Iasi
month was a music instructoi
and band supervisor at Leianc
Junior High School in Chevj
Chase, Md.
Mrs. Mary Stalcup Markward
former FBI operative within tli<
Washington Communist Party
named the 31-year-old, Polish
bom Shonick in executive ses
sion testimony before the House
Committee on Un-American Ac
tivities on June 11.
Prince Georges Starts Inquiry.
Meanwhile, it was learned that
Samuel Michelson, also branded
a Red by Mrs. Markward, has
resigned from his post as social
studies teacher at Claude A
Swanson Junior High School in
Arlington, Va'.
And in Prince Georges County,
Superintendent of Schools Wil
liam S. Schmidt, today revealed
he was holding up the contract of
Theodore London, a social studies
teacher at Surrattsville High
School, pending completion of a
State investigation of the instruc
tor under the anti-subversive
Uber law.
Mrs. Markward testified before
the House committee that a
Theodore London was a member
of the Communist Party here in
the. 1940s.
O. Bowie Duckett, assistant
State’s attorney general, ac
knowledged that his office was in
vestigating the Prince Georges
teacher, but said he had not been
informed “officially” of Mrs.
Markward’s testimony.
Dr. Edwin W. Broome, Mont
gomery County superintendent of
schools, told The Star that Mr.
Shonick had resigned, but had
given no reason. He denied the
resignation had anything to do
with Mr. Shonitk’s having been
accused as a Communist.
Mr. Shonick, however, gave
this account:
“Dr. Broome, who had been
advised of the Markward testi
mony before it was made public,
called me into his office and ad
vised me that my contract was
not going to be renewed,” he as
serted. “Then, by Joint agreement,
I submitted my resignation.”
The dismissal of Mr. Shonick
was the second in about a year
in Montgomery schools over the
communism issue and brought an
immediate demand for a thorough
investigation.
Franklin T. Miles, Chevy Chase
attorney, declared he would urge
(Continued on Page A-3, Col. 5.)
Red China Firing Squads
Slay 334 in Two Weeks
•y th» Associated Press
HONG .KONG, July 20 —Com
munist firing squads executed 334
persons in Peiping and Shang
hai the first two weeks in July,
Chinese Communist newspapers
said last night.
These slayings were in addi
tion to 60 reported in Shanghai
on July 9. The latest report said
227 died in-Peiping on July 10
and 57 in Shanghai July 14.
The Communist-controlled press
said the victims were Chinese Na
tionalist spies and pro-Japanese
elements.
The same report said 642 others
were given more lenient sentences
—mostly life imprisonment.
i
Slain Entering
Mosque to Pray
In Jerusalem
Second Son, Prince
Naif, Succeeds to
Hashemite Throne
By the Associated Press
CAIRO, July 20.—King Abdul
lah of Jordan was assassinated to
day as he was entering a mosqut
in Jerusalem.
The killing promised new dif
ficulties in the Middle East for
Photos of King Abdulloh and His Son and
Scene of Killing at Mosque of Omar.
Poge A-$
Britain, already harried by the
Iranian oil crisis. The British put
Abdullah on the Jordan throne
after World War II and supplied
funds to his government and its
strong Arab Legion.
Abdullah, 69, was shot and
killed at the entrance of the
Mosque of Omar in the Old City
of Jerusalem, the British Foreign
Office said. The government radio
at Amman, in announcing the
death of the bearded leader, said
Abdullah’s second son, 35-year-old
Prince Naif, has been named
temporarily as prince regent. The
crown prince, Tallal, 40, has been
under treatment for a nervous
disorder.
Mullahs (Moslem priests)
i chanted verses of the Moham
medan Koran over the Amman
radio in mourning as soon as the
jnews was announced. Friday is
| the Moslem Sabbath.
I The king claimed direct descent
| from the family of the prophet
Mohammed.
Assassin Shot Dead.
The British Foreign Office said
I the assassin was identified a*
Mustafa Shakir. He was said to
I have been shot dead.
Informed British sources said
Shakir was a known terrorist who
had contacts with the ex-Mufti
of Jerusalem, now living in Cairo.
The ex-Mufti and Abdullah often
i had differed on the conduct of the
Palestine war and negotiations
jwith Israel.
Abdullah's violent death ended
a reign marked by strife. The
king wore a silver dagger always
; at his belt but presided over his
country with oriental serenity.
A turbaned little man swathed
in flowing robes, Abdullah was
constantly a thorn in the side
of other Arab rulers because of his
independence. A stanch friend of
the British, who brought him to
power and subsidized his strategic
ally situated country, he often
jelected to play a lone hand in
I the complex politics of the Middle
| East.
Abdullah joined with the other
Arab states when they made war
on the budding state of Israel in
May, 1948, a war which lasted a
year and never officially has ended
in a peace settlement. He emerged
from the war with a large slice of
what had ben Palestine, including
the old shrine area in the Walled
City of Jerusalem and the City of
Jericho, storied in the Bible.
Lebanon Minister Slain.
Last Sunday in Amman Riad el
Solh, foreign minister of Lebanon
was killed by Syrian nationalists.
The act touched off riots in
Labanon, where Mr. Solh was a
leading political figure. He had
long been an opponent of Abdul
lah’s Greater Syria ambitions.
Prince Naif already has taken
the oath before Parliament, Am
man radio said.
The Amman radio gave this
version of the assassination:
“King Abdullah was on the point
of entering the Aqsa Mosque
(Mosque of Omar) in Jerusalem.
“The killer was hidden behind
a door of the mosque.
"He opened fire on the king.
“King Abdullah’s guards imme
diately killed the assassin.”
The Cairo news magazine Akh
bar Elyom received these details
of the slaying:
Abdullah was shot “several
times” by an unknown man as he
entered Mosque of Omar in Jeru
salem to pray.
As Abdullah came through the
door the slayer walked up to him
and opened fire. Abdullah re
portedly staggered, took two steps
backward, then fell and died.
Near Holy Sepulcher.
The Mosque of Omar, one of
Islam's greatest shrines, is located
not far from the Christian basilica
of the Holy Sepulcher within the
old Walled City of Jerusalem. One
of its walls is believed to be a
remnant of Solomon’s Temple. It
(Continued on Page A-6, Col. 1.)
Featured Reading
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CRIME BY WIRE—With the end of
prohibition mobsters gave birth ta a
new industry: the racing wire service.
Development of the sprawling network
in the center of illegal bookmaking is
described by former Senate Crime Com
mitte Chairman Estes Kefauver in to
day's installment of "Crime in America"
on page A-5.
VIRGINIA POLITICS—Despite spir
ited contests elsewhere, most Northern
Virginia members of the House of Dele
gates will have clear sailing in the
August 7 Democratic primary. Star
Staff Correspondent Alex R. Preston,
touring the Northern counties, reports
today on page B-6.
i

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